Complex organic molecules have been discovered in a primordial galaxy 12.3 billion light-years (12,300 million light-years) from Earth. It is the earliest organic compound ever discovered and the most distant from Earth.
The researchers involved in this research did not expect to find organic molecules so far away. Scientists say the discovery of organic compounds so far away is an important discovery.
The organic compounds found now are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Globally, this compound is released in large quantities from automobile exhaust fumes and forest fires.
In space, scientists believe that this PAH compound may play an important role in the birth of new stars. Scientists speculate that this PAH compound maintains the right temperature inside the gas clouds where new stars are born. In this way, it is estimated that it will play a role in controlling the birth of new stars.
Now the compounds have been found inside a galaxy named SPT0418-47. This galaxy was first discovered in 2020. According to the study with telescopes on Earth, it was assumed that there may be many heavy elements in this galaxy. But the presence of organic compounds in this galaxy was unknown.
That’s why astronomers looked at this galaxy after the launch of the James Webb Telescope. The present result was obtained from this study.
The results now support the theory that PAHs are important for the birth of new stars, as previously thought. But the problem is that no organic compounds can be found in some star-forming regions within this galaxy.
The researchers point out that this discovery is only the first stage. They point out that much more research is needed to understand the link between organic compounds and star birth.